A US-brokered ceasefire in Gaza appears to have survived its first major test as Israel and Hamas affirmed their commitment to the deal after two Israeli soldiers were killed in the enclave on Sunday,

The vice president was the latest U.S. official to meet with the Israeli PM since a flare-up in violence threatened the truce. Secretary of State Marco Rubio was set to follow Friday.

The Israeli military said a ceasefire in Gaza had resumed after an attack killed two of its soldiers and prompted airstrikes that Palestinians said killed 26 people.

The US vice-president's visit comes after a flare-up of violence between Israel and Hamas that threatened to derail the 12-day-old truce.

Stark County residents who have ties to Israel and Gaza happy with a ceasefire but are skeptical of lasting peace.

As a Christian, this region of the world means a great deal to me,' Vance said at the start of whirlwind trip to salvage the Israel-Hamas ceasefire.

Vice President Vance told reporters on the tarmac as he prepared to fly home from a several-day trip to Israel, that "for all of the issues and all the problems right now, I think we can say with confidence that Israel is respecting the ceasefire,

U.S. Vice President JD Vance is seeking to ease concerns in Israel that the Trump administration is dictating terms to its closest ally in the Middle East.

Several top U.S. officials are in Israel to shore up the Gaza ceasefire and attempt to bring about a permanent end to the war. They acknowledge the next phase poses serious challenges.